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Friday, December 27, 2013

The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the terrorist attack on December 27, 2013 in the city center of Beirut, which killed former Lebanese Minister M. Mohammed Chatah along with at least four other people, and caused numerous injuries, including among civilians.

The members of the Security Council extended their condolences to the families of the victims and expressed their sympathy to all those injured in this heinous act and to the people and Government of Lebanon.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of any attempt to destabilize Lebanon through political assassinations and demanded an immediate end to the use of intimidation and violence against political figures.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and all obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Recalling the Presidential Statement of July 10, 2013, the members of the Security Council appealed to all Lebanese people to preserve national unity in the face of attempts to undermine the country’s stability and stressed the importance for all Lebanese parties to respect Lebanon’s policy of disassociation and to refrain from any involvement in the Syrian crisis, consistent with their commitment in the Baabda Declaration.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

​Expressing grave alarm and concern regarding the rapidly deteriorating security and humanitarian crisis in South Sudan resulting from the political dispute and subsequent violence caused by the country’s political leaders,

​Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Republic of South Sudan,

​Condemning the fighting and targeted violence against civilians and specific ethnic and other communities occurring across the country that have resulted in hundreds of deaths and casualties and tens of thousands of internally displaced persons,

​Further condemning reported human rights violations and abuses by all parties, including armed groups and national security forces, and emphasizing that those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law must be held accountable,

​Welcoming the strengthening of the human rights investigation capacity of United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) with the support of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,

​Commending the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Ministerial Group’s initiative, as supported by the United Nations and African Union, in seeking to open the dialogue and mediate between key leaders, and urging all parties to cooperate with this initiative,

​Commending the active steps taken by UNMISS to implement its mandate and give refuge in its premises and other forms of assistance to the civilians caught in the fighting,

​Condemning in the strongest terms attacks on and threats made to UNMISS personnel and United Nations facilities, demanding that all parties respect the inviolability of United Nations premises and to refrain from any violence against those gathered at United Nations facilities, and in this regard reiterating its condemnation of the attack on the UNMISS camp in Akobo, on 19 December, which resulted in the death of two Indian peacekeepers and the wounding of another, as well as at least 20 other casualties of individuals seeking UNMISS protection,

​Determining that the situation in South Sudan continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region,

​Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

​1.​Calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the immediate opening of a dialogue;

​2.​Demands that all parties cooperate fully with UNMISS as it implements its mandate, in particular the protection of civilians, and stresses that efforts to undermine UNMISS’ ability to implement its mandate and attacks on United Nations personnel will not be tolerated;

​3.​Endorses the recommendation made by the Secretary-General to temporarily increase the overall force levels of UNMISS to support its protection of civilians and provision of humanitarian assistance;

​4.​Decides, therefore, that given the urgent circumstances of the situation, UNMISS will consist of a military component of up to 12,500 troops of all ranks and of a police component, including appropriate Formed Police Units, of up to 1,323,requeststhat the Secretary-General keep the new levels of troops and police in UNMISS under continuous review, and requests that the Secretary-General report to the Council within 15 days on the steps taken to implement this resolution, and at least every 30 days thereafter;

​5.​Authorizes the Secretary-General to take the necessary steps to facilitate inter-mission cooperation and, if needed and subject to further Council consideration, complementary force and asset generation, and authorizes, in order to reach the new levels of troops and police within the overall troop ceiling set out in paragraph 4 on a temporary basis, appropriate transfer of troops, force enablers, and multipliers from other missions, in particular MONUSCO, UNAMID, UNISFA, UNOCI and UNMIL, subject to the agreement of the troop-contributing countries and without prejudice to the performance of the mandates of these United Nations missions;

​6.​Urges the concerned Member States to facilitate the deployment and redeployment to and from UNMISS, and encourages all Member States to respond to United Nations efforts to mobilize troops and resources;

Monday, December 23, 2013

Civilians fleeing fighting and seeking refuge are pictured outside a compound of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), in Bor. 18 December 2013

23
December 2013

Dear
Mr. President,

I
have the honour to refer to Security Council resolution 1996 (2011)
establishing the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), in
Which the Council, inter alia, authorized me to take the necessary
steps to ensure inter—mission cooperation, as appropriate and
subject to the conditions stated therein.

As
you are aware, and as stated in my press briefings of 19 and 23
December 2013, and in our briefings to the Security Council on 17 and
20 December 2013, I am deeply concerned about the growing violence in
many parts of South Sudan, human rights abuses and killings fuelled
by ethnic tensions. The displacement of civilians is growing and
spreading. Efforts to facilitate a political solution to the crisis
are ongoing but have yet to gain traction.

UNMISS
is doing everything it can, within its means and in a very fluid
situation, to protect civilians, as well as United Nations and
international personnel on the ground. In light of the deteriorating
security situation in South Sudan, I have taken steps to urgently
strengthen the protection capabilities of UNMISS.

Accordingly,
in light of the urgent priority requirements of UNMISS for the
protection of civilians and the protection of United Nations
personnel and assets, 1 have decided to pursue, through inter-mission
cooperation, the

.
following transfers to UNMISS from other missions, in particular

MONUSCO,
UNAMID, UNISFA, ONUCI and UNMIL: five infantry battalions, three
attack helicopters, three utility helicopters, one C130 military
transport aircraft and other enablers (5,500 all strengths), and
three Formed Police Units totaling 423 personnel.

The
human rights investigation capacity of UNMISS is being urgently
strengthened With the support of the Office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights.

The
Secretariat is in the process of obtaining the consent of the troop-
and police-contributing countries concerned and is coordinating
closely With the peacekeeping operations concerned to ensure that the
timing and duration of this proposed temporary re-deployment does not
prejudice the implementation of their respective mandates.

I
would be grateful if the Security Council would approve the transfer
of the relevant personnel and assets to UNMISS On an urgent basis in
order to help ensure the protection of civilians and the protection
of United Nations personnel and assets.

Given
the extraordinary time constraints placed upon the Secretariat, the
assistance of Member States, including Council Members, is requested
for air and other transportation to ensure the timely deployment of
United Nations personnel. With regard to potential financial
implications, the Secretariat will need to request additional funding
through the established channels.

I
would be grateful if you could bring this letter to the attention of
the members of the Security Council at the earliest opportunity.

The
following Security Council press statement was issued today by
Council President Gérard Araud (France): The
members of the Security Council expressed grave alarm and concern
regarding the rapidly deteriorating security and humanitarian crisis
in South Sudan resulting from the political dispute among the
country’s political leaders which threatens serious implications
for the long-term security and stability of South Sudan, as well as
for the neighboring countries and other peace and security challenges
in the region.

The
members of the Security Council strongly condemned the fighting and
targeted violence against civilians and specific ethnic and other
communities occurring across the country that have resulted in
hundreds of deaths and casualties, and tens of thousands of
internally displaced persons. The members of the Security
Council stressed the necessity for all parties to reject this
violence in all its forms and to resolve disagreements peacefully,
and called on President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek
Machar to demonstrate leadership in bringing a swift and peaceful
resolution to this crisis by calling for a cessation of hostilities
and immediately commencing a dialogue. They called on all
parties to protect detainees. They also further encouraged all
South Sudan’s leaders, political and military, to engage in a
political process of national reconciliation and constitutional
reform through peaceful and inclusive means, underpinned by respect
for the rule of law.

The
members of the Security Council called on all relevant States and
organizations to use their influence with South Sudan’s political
leaders to bring about an end to the violence and initiate
reconciliation.

In
this regard, the members of the Security Council welcomed the
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Ministerial Group’s
swift initiative, as supported by the United Nations and African
Union, in seeking to open the dialogue and mediate between key
leaders. They strongly urged all parties to cooperate with this
initiative.

The
members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the
attack on an UNMISS camp in Akobo, on 19 December, which resulted in
the death of two Indian peacekeepers and the wounding of another as
well as at least 20 other causalities of individuals seeking UNMISS
protection.
The
members of the Security Council expressed their condolences to the
families of those peacekeepers killed in the attack, as well as to
the Government of India, and to UNMISS, and called on the Government
of South Sudan to swiftly investigate the incident and bring the
perpetrators to justice. They also stressed that intentionally
directing attacks against personnel, installations, material, units
or vehicles involved in a peacekeeping mission deployed in accordance
with the Charter of the UN, as long as they are entitled to the
protection given to civilians or civilian objects under the
international law of armed conflict, may amount to a crime under
international law.

The
members of the Council condemned reported human rights violations and
abuses by all parties, including armed groups and national security
forces, and emphasized that those responsible for any violations of
international humanitarian law and international human rights law
must be held accountable.

The
members of the Security Council expressed deep concern regarding
attacks on civilians and the increasing number of displaced persons,
and called on all parties to allow and expedite the safe and
unhindered access of humanitarian organizations and the timely
delivery of humanitarian assistance to populations in need, while
respecting the UN guiding principles of humanitarian assistance.
They strongly condemned the attacks on oil installations, which
resulted in heavy loss of life of oil workers, and called upon all
parties to ensure the security of economic infrastructures and the
safety of the employees.

The
members of the Security Council commended the active steps taken by
the UNMISS to implement its mandate and other humanitarian agencies
that have given refuge in their premises and other forms of
assistance to the civilians caught in the fighting. They
encouraged UNMISS to continue to implement fully its mandate, in
particular the protection of civilians, and called on South Sudanese
authorities to provide their full support and assistance in this
regard. They also emphasized that efforts to undermine UNMISS’s
ability to implement its mandate will not be tolerated and urged all
parties to cooperate fully with UNMISS.

The
members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong commitment to
the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the
Republic of South Sudan. They appealed to the principal leaders
concerned to live up to their individual responsibilities to the
people of South Sudan and to do everything possible to fulfill the
aspirations of its people.

The
members of the Security Council reiterated their intention to
continue to follow the situation closely and to take additional steps
as necessary.

Friday, December 13, 2013

This letter was drafted by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in November 2013, diplomats said.

Draft
text for Letter of the United Nations Secretary-General to
International Participants

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at his residence. September 2013

In
light of the appalling human suffering and widespread destruction in
Syria, including the grave and ever-deteriorating human rights
situation, violations of international humanitarian law and the risk
of deepening conflict and regional instability, it is imperative to
reach a peaceful settlement with the greatest urgency.

The
path towards such a settlement was outlined in the Geneva Communique
of 30 June 2012 (Annex I), unanimously endorsed by Security Council
resolution 2118 of 27 September 2013. The Security Council called for
the convening, as soon as possible, of a conference to implement the
Geneva Communiqué. Since the initiative of Foreign Minister Lavrov
of the Russian Federation and Secretary of State Kerry of the United
States of America on 7 May 2013, intensive preparatory consultations
between the United Nations and the Permanent Five Members of the
Security Council, including the two Initiating States, and others
have taken place, along with consultations with the Syrian parties.

Consequently,
I am now convening the Geneva Conference on Syria, and am pleased to
invite you to attend the high-level international meeting that will
launch the Conference. The Conference will begin on 23 November 2013
at the Palais des Nations at 9.00 am.

The
Conference aims to assist the Syrian parties in ending the violence
and achieving a comprehensive agreement for a political settlement,
implementing fully the Geneva Communique. The Communique contains
Principles and Guidelines for a Syrian-led transition. These set out
a number of key steps, beginning with agreement on a transitional
governing body with full executive powers, formed by mutual consent.
As the Geneva Communiqué says, the public services must be preserved
or restored. This includes the military forces and security services.
All governmental institutions and state offices must perform
according to professional and human rights standards, operating under
a top leadership that inspires public confidence under the control
transitional governing body.

The
Conference will convene under my chairmanship, first in an
international high-level format Over one day. Negotiations between
the two Syrian parties, facilitated by the Joint Special
Representative for Syria will follow immediately. Adjournments and
subsequent meetings may take place in accordance with a work-plan to
be agreed. The high-level international meeting 111213.r resume its
deliberations as required.

I
am confident that the international participants will offer
meaningful support for constructive negotiations between the Syrian
parties. I am sure that all present will do their utmost to encourage
the Syrian parties to reach a comprehensive settlement, fully
implementing the Geneva Communique, within an accelerated time-frame.
In addition to participation in the high-level meeting, it may be
necessary to call upon you to assist further as the negotiations
between the Syrian parties progress.

In
inviting the Syrian parties, I have reminded them that the Security
Council has called on the them to engage seriously and constructively
at the Conference, and underscored that they should be fully
representative of the Syrian people and committed to the
implementation of the Geneva Communique and to the achievement of
stability and reconciliation. I have also reminded the Syrian parties
that, consistent with the Geneva Communique, Security Council
resolution 1325 and other relevant resolutions (Annex II), full and
effective participation of women needs to be assured, including
through their senior presence in both delegations.

I
look forward to confirmation of attendance of your delegation, and
the list of delegates and advisers, by 15 November 2013.

Confirmation
of attendance will be taken as commitment to the aims of the
Conference stated above, in accordance with the Geneva Communiqué,
in particular the Principles and Guidelines for a Syrian-led
transition contained in it.

You
will find annexed a technical information note (Annex III) and basic
rules for the Conference (Annex IV).

The
conflict in Syria has raged for too long, and has imposed too many
sacrifices on the people of Syria. The violence must be ended
expeditiously. The Geneva Conference offers a unique avenue towards
this end. I am deeply grateful for you cooperation in this venture,
to help enSure that peace can restored and the transition foreseen in
the Geneva Communique can be implemented in a way that fully meets
the aspirations of the Syrian people.

I
have the honour to transmit the second monthly report of the
Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons (OPCW) pursuant to paragraph 2 (f) of OPCW Executive Council
decision EC-M-3 3/DEC.1 and paragraph 12 of Security Council
resolution 2118 (2013) (see annex). The present letter also provides
the information requested in that resolution on the activities of the
United Nations that took place from 23
October to 26 November 2013 related to the implementation of the
resolution.

Introduction

A
number of milestones were reached during the reporting period, which
the Director—General has detailed at length in his report. The
Syrian Arab Republic submitted its initial declaration to OPCW on 23
October 2013, in which it disclosed details about its chemical
weapons pro gramme. Furthermore, the Syrian Arab Republic submitted,
as a part of its declaration, its plan for the programme’s
destruction. In this plan, the Syrian authorities proposed that its
chemical material should be removed from its territory for
destruction.

On
21 November 2013, the Syrian Arab Republic submitted an amendment to
its initial declaration increasing the total amount of declared
munitions to approximately 1,260 items. '

On
31 October 2013, the Joint Mission confirmed that the Government of
the Syrian Arab Republic had completed the functional destruction of
critical equipment for all of its declared chemical weapons
production facilities and mixing/filling plants, rendering them
inoperable. By doing so, Syria met the deadline set by the OPCW
Executive Council to complete destruction as soon as possible, and in
any case not later than 1 November 2013.

On
15 November 2013, the OPCW Executive Council approved the destruction
plan of the Syrian Arab Republic for the elimination of its chemical
weapons programme. In its decision (EC-M-34/DEC.l), the Executive
Council set out detailed requirements and a clear set of timelines
for the removal and destruction of primary chemical material outside
the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as the destruction of other
chemical material, unfilled chemical munitions and chemical weapons
production facilities inside the Syrian Arab Republic.

During
this reporting period, the Special Coordinator visited Moscow,
Washington D.C., The Hague, London and Ankara. She also participated
in planning discussions at OPCW headquarters and addressed the
Executive Council in The Hague, briefed the United Nations Security
Council in

New
York and addressed the NATO-Russia Council in Brussels. In each
location, she held bilateral meetings with Member State counterparts
to brief on the progress of the Joint Mission and to coordinate and
seek support for its future activities. In addition, in all her
meetings she solicited financial and in-kind voluntary contributions
to two trust funds setup by OPCW and the United Nations to ensure
that the Joint Mission operations are sufficiently funded and
equipped for the significant tasks ahead.

The
Special Coordinator also met with representatives of the United
Nations in Geneva, including those of the Joint Special
Representative for Syria, to coordinate relevant activities of the
Joint Mission. She met with officials of the World Health
Organization and is in contact with the United Nations Environment
Programme to seek specialized assistance and advice in the domains of
public health and environmental protection.

The
Special Coordinator also met with counterparts in the Syrian Arab
Republic in Damascus to coordinate Joint Mission activities and to
seek the Government’s continuing commitment to its obligations
under Security Council resolution 2118 (2013) and OPCW Executive
Council decisions. The discussions reiterated the critical need to
ensure the security of Joint Mission personnel and premises. She also
met with representatives of the National Coalition for Syrian
Revolutionary and Opposition Forces in Istanbul to explain the Joint
Mission’s mandated tasks and activities ahead of the Syrian Arab
Republic commencing the transportation of chemical material inside
the country and to discuss the need for the safety of the convoys.

In
conducting these activities, the Special Coordinator has remained in
constant contact With the Director-General of OPCW and myself to
ensure that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
headquarters in The Hague and the United Nations Secretariat are
fully and expeditiously informed of progress made and challenges
faced in implementing mandated tasks.

United
Nations component activities

The
United Nations component of the Joint Mission has augmented its
essential staffing, assets and capabilities required on the ground in
Damascus, has developed the Joint Mission office in Cyprus and has
established a small New York office, While remaining focused on
having only alight footprint in each location. To this end, the Joint
Mission continues to draw on

United
Nations resources in the region as well as OPCW and United Nations
Headquarters. Some of the United Nations support responsibilities
continue to be met through temporary deployments of United Nations
personnel Who provide short-term capabilities that are critical to
the Joint Mission. Currently there are 15 OPCW experts and 48 United
Nations personnel working in the Joint Mission, including national
staff. These numbers for both OPCW experts and United Nations
personnel are tailored to the specific operational requirements of
the Joint Mission.

The
United Nations component in Damascus continued to provide support
through coordination and liaison with the Government of the Syrian
Arab Republic, opposition groups and international stakeholders. It
also provided the Joint Mission with security advice and risk
assessments, information assessments, communications and outreach,
logistical expertise, and logistical and administrative support.

The
United Nations component continuously assesses the security situation
as it affects the operations of the Joint Mission in the Syrian Arab
Republic. It is undertaking measures to install security enhancements
at its current headquarters in Damascus. While some enhancements have
been implemented, others are either being installed or awaiting
importation clearances. All armoured vehicles have been equipped with
communications and tracking systems. Safety and security measures
have been put in place for all personnel and a programme of security
training courses has commenced. Despite these measures, the facility
remains vulnerable to certain risks, and the Joint Mission is
actively exploring viable alternative locations to base its
activities, should the security situation require it.

As
I stated in my last letter to the Security Council (8/2013/629), the
safety and security of all Joint Mission personnel is of central
concern to me, the Director-General of OPCW and the Special
Coordinator. The security environment in the Syrian Arab Republic,
including in Damascus, remains complex, challenging and
unpredictable. The safety and security of Joint Mission personnel
remains the ultimate responsibility of the Government of the Syrian
Arab Republic. In addition, all parties must also ensure the access
and safety of Joint Mission personnel at sites Where they may exert
influence, in order that the Joint Mission may fulfill its mandate.

Key
personnel have now deployed to the Joint Mission office in Cyprus. A
donor coordination/advisory cell has been set up to work closely With
international contributors. A Swedish aircraft and crew have deployed
to Cyprus to carry out cargo and personnel airlift operations for the
Joint Mission. Romanian Close Personal Protection officers, based
partially in Cyprus to provide protection capabilities for the
Special Coordinator in the mission area, have also deployed. It is
envisioned that a Danish Close Protection team will assume this role
from 1 March 2014 until the end of the mandate of the Mission.

A
New York office of the Joint Mission has been established at United
Nations Headquarters in order to communicate and coordinate closely
with Member States and to ensure timely follow-up on behalf of the
Joint Mission. A United Nations Liaison Officer has been continuously
present at OPCW headquarters in The Hague to further ensure close
collaboration and coordination.

The
United Nations and OPCW are still negotiating the tripartite
status-of-mission agreement with the Government of the Syrian Arab
Republic. In addition, the United Nations and OPCW are seeking to
conclude a memorandum of understanding With the Syrian Arab Republic
regarding the provision of medical services to Joint Mission
personnel.

Phase
II activities

The
Joint Mission continues With ongoing phase II inspection and
verification activities. While 3 of the 23 sites declared by the
Government of the Syrian Arab Republic have not received physical
inspections by Joint Mission personnel owing to safety and security
concerns, 2 of these 3 sites have now been verified with the support
of sealed GPS cameras used by Syrian personnel, in accordance with
guidance provided by Joint Mission inspectors. The exact geographical
location and the time the images were captured were then fully
authenticated. One of the two sites declared as abandoned by the
Syrian Arab Republic was verified as such. Only one site remains to
be verified. It has been declared by the Syrian Arab Republic as
inactive. This site Will be verified as soon as conditions permit,
and following a security assessment by Joint Mission personnel.

In
addition, during the reporting period, Joint Mission inspectors also
conducted visits to verify the complete destruction of Category 3
munitions at all relevant sites in the Damascus area, The Joint
Mission has also completed plans for visits to the Horns area to
verify the destruction of Category 3 munitions at the sites there.
The Joint Mission remains poised to conduct visits when the security
situation becomes permissive.

Also
in this reporting period the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic
began to destroy specialized and standard equipment belonging to
production facilities, in addition to special features of buildings
and standard buildings at the same locations. The Joint Mission will
begin verifying activities at these sites in the coming days.

Phase
III activities

In
preparation for phase III activities, Joint Mission personnel visited
a chemical material storage site near Damascus to determine the
nature and quantity of specialist packaging materials required to
safely transport all declared chemical material storage containers.
The information was provided to an Operational Planning Group meeting
at OPCW headquarters in The Hague, which met from 6 to 9 November
2013. Important pledges of in-kind donations, particularly from the
United States of America, have since been confirmed to ensure safe
and secure packaging, handling and transporting of the chemical
material during phase III.

The
Operational Planning Group meeting also supported the Syrian Arab
Republic in outlining steps the Syrian authorities would be required
to take for the removal of selected chemical material from the
country for destruction outside its territory. The report of the
Group includes timelines and projected logistics and security
requirements considered necessary by the Syrian Arab Republic in this
regard.

Following
a request by the Director—General of OPCW, on 15 November 2013, the
Special Coordinator sent a letter to all Member States attaching the
projected logistics and security requirements identified by the
Syrian Arab Republic as needed to meet the most urgent impending
deadlines set out in the OPCW Executive Council decision of the same
day.

The
Director-General of OPCW made the letter of the Special Coordinator
available to States parties of the Chemical Weapons Convention for
their consideration.

Specialist
packaging materials have begun to arrive in Lebanon, and the Joint
Mission is contracting transport for onward movement to Damascus.
Significant numbers of trucks Will be required to transfer the
packaging materials overland to the Syrian capital. The Syrian
authorities have identified a staging area in Damascus to store the
packaging materials prior to their distribution to the various
declared sites. In this connection, the United Nations and OPCW
maintain that the Syrian Arab Republic, in accordance with its
obligations as a State party to the Chemical Weapons Convention, is
responsible for preserving public health and the environment.

In
preparation for the packaging of the chemical agents, the Joint
Mission has organized a packaging and International Maritime
Dangerous Goods course in Beirut to train select Syrian personnel.

Joint
Mission personnel have conducted an assessment mission to the port of
Latakia, the location designated by the Syrian Arab Republic prior to
the transfer of chemical material out of the country. The Joint
Mission determined that the port city had all the necessary
capabilities required to handle the planned loading and shipment of
chemical warfare agents, as well as sufficiently secure facilities
for the deployment of Joint Mission personnel. The Joint Mission is
currently working to establish a temporary forward operating base in
Latakia to support the inspection and verification of chemical
material prior to loading. Chemical material may have to be repacked
for maritime transport to ensure the highest safety standards.

The
Joint Mission is also coordinating the offers of assistance and the
planning With respect to the support of the maritime transfer of
selected chemical material from the Syrian Arab Republic. In this
regard, several Member States have indicated their Willingness to
provide specialized cargo container vessels capable of safely storing
and transporting the material at sea. Member States have also offered
maritime escorts to ensure security of the vessels. The Joint Mission
is in discussions with these Member States to facilitate an agreed
arrangement. A maritime planning group, consisting of interested
Member States, Will meet in Cyprus to take discussions forward.
Details concerning the final destruction plan need to be available as
soon as possible. In this regard, the United Nations and OPCW
maintain that the States undertaking the removal and maritime
transport should seek to agree among themselves on questions of
possession, jurisdiction and control and the related questions of
liability for, and mitigation of, security and other risks, including
in respect of damage to public health and the environment.

In
addition to the two trust funds set up by OPCW and the United Nations
to fund these activities, the Director-General of OPCW was requested
by the Executive Council to set up a third special trust fund to seek
financial contributions for the complete destruction of the binary
chemical components and associated reaction masses of the Syrian Arab
Republic outside the country. On 20 November 2013, OPCW also issued
an “Expression of Interest” seeking to identify commercial
companies interested in participating in a future tender for the
treatment and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous organic and
non-organic chemicals and related packaging materials. Member States
are encouraged to contribute to all three trust funds set up by OPCW
and the United Nations to ensure successful implementation of the
mandate.

Conclusion

The
Joint Mission has made considerable progress in verifying the
implementation of phase II by the Syrian Arab Republic, in planning
for phase III and in starting initial phase III activities. The OPCW
Executive Council decision of 15 November 2013 set ambitious
timelines. Achieving these timelines Will require an unprecedented
effort and coordination from all stakeholders under extremely
challenging conditions.

Several
Member States have played a critical role assisting in the
implementation of respective OPCW Executive Council decisions and
Security Council resolution 2118 (2013). In particular, I would like
to reiterate my appreciation to the Government of Cyprus for agreeing
to host the Joint Mission office on its territory and for
facilitating the deployment of Joint Mission personnel and assets. I
would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Government of
Lebanon for facilitating the transit of all Joint Mission personnel
and assets through Beirut’s entry hubs to the Syrian Arab Republic.

In
addition, a number of Member States have provided material funding,
technical expertise and critical assets to the Joint Mission, and
several other Member States are awaiting confirmation of their
offers. The Joint Mission has received valuable additional in-kind
support from Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States and the
European Union. As at 25 November 2013, the OPCW trust fund included
€10.8 million With contributions from Canada, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, the Netherlands, the Republic of
Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. The
United Nations trust fund currently includes $2 million from the
United States and pledges in the amount of €250,000 from Denmark
and €250,000 from Luxembourg. Without this assistance, the Joint
Mission would not have been able to implement its mandated tasks.

Going
forward, there remain a number of issues and circumstances that could
impact the implementation of mandated tasks in accordance with OPCW
Executive Council decisions and Security Council resolution 2118
(2013).

First,
Member State voluntary in-kind contributions continue to be at the
forefront of requirements. As described above, progress has been made
in procuring and delivering packaging material for phase HI
activities. Member States considering contributions of assets
necessary to ensure security have been asked to engage bilaterally
with the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic. At the same time,
the Syrian authorities are being encouraged to consider alternative
options to ensure the safety and security of inland transportation
for the chemical material. In addition, it is possible that other
needs may be identified regarding the destruction of chemical
material and reaction mass outside the Syrian Arab Republic, as well
as possible additional equipment needed to complete the destruction
of Syrian chemical weapons, material and production facilities inside
the Syrian Arab Republic.

Second,
full clarity regarding the plan for the removal and destruction of
chemical material outside Syrian territory is critical, including the
location for destruction. In order to move forward, detailed
arrangements need to be put in place, including timelines concerning
the availability of equipment and the docking facilities, and careful
agreement regarding specific roles and functions of the Joint Mission
and concerned Member States.

Third,
the implementation of Joint Mission mandated objectives cannot occur
without conditiOns inside the Syrian Arab Republic that are conducive
to carrying out these tasks. The Syrian authorities have continued
their constructive cooperation with the Joint Mission.
Representatives of the Syrian opposition based in Istanbul have also
indicated their support for the safe transportation of convoys
containing chemical material. The Security Council, in resolution
2118 (2013), emphasized the importance of ensuring the security of
activities undertaken by Joint Mission personnel and allowing them
immediate and unfettered access. Furthermore, the Council, by that
resolution, decided that all parties in the Syrian Arab Republic
shall cooperate fully in this regard. Nevertheless, recent fighting
in the Syrian Arab Republic shows that the security situation is
volatile, unpredictable and highly dangerous.

The
Director-General of OPCW and I remain deeply concerned about the
safety and security of Joint Mission personnel.

Given
the complexity of the mission and the unpredictable operating
environment, many factors remain outside the control of the Joint
Mission. Its personnel are making every effort to ensure that the
necessary arrangements are in place to implement mandated objectives.
The international community should remain unwavering in its support
to the women and men of the Joint Mission. The United Nations will
continue to act in partnership with OPCW, and through the Joint
Mission, to implement the provisions of the decisions of the
Executive Council (EC-M-33/DEC.1 and EC-M-34/DECl) and

Security
Council resolution 2118 (2013) in their entirety.

I
should be grateful if you would bring this letter urgently to the
attention of the members of the Security Council.